Thread: How do I break in new hones?

I use a 325 DMT plate to lap my stones with the pencil grid. or check here Hone Lapping 101 - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Hope this helps.
MIke

Originally Posted by MODINE

I use a 325 DMT plate to lap my stones with the pencil grid. or check here Hone Lapping 101 - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Hope this helps.
MIke

thats exactly what I needed. Thanks!
Where can I get a DMT stone/plate, and how much do they cost?
Can I get that kind of sandpaper at Walmart?

Is it okay to use the flattening stone that came with the set? Can that flattening stone be used to round the edges of the hone?

I would check the local hardware or auto parts stores for wet dry sandpaper before Walmart. You do not need to go out and buy a plate but if you plan on getting more stones...
DMT X-Coarse 8" Diamond Sharpening Stone 220 grit D8X - eBay (item 310287115710 end time Apr-10-11 14:58:49 PDT)

The 220 grit would make quick work of lapping most stones... I raise a slurry with a 1200 grit DMT or ATOMA. This also smooths the stone after the 220 chews it flat. The DMTs work well on knives and tools as well. Have fun, hope this helps.
Mike

Originally Posted by MODINE

I would check the local hardware or auto parts stores for wet dry sandpaper before Walmart. You do not need to go out and buy a plate but if you plan on getting more stones...
DMT X-Coarse 8" Diamond Sharpening Stone 220 grit D8X - eBay (item 310287115710 end time Apr-10-11 14:58:49 PDT)

The 220 grit would make quick work of lapping most stones... I raise a slurry with a 1200 grit DMT or ATOMA. This also smooths the stone after the 220 chews it flat. The DMTs work well on knives and tools as well. Have fun, hope this helps.
Mike

nice, thanks.
is it also okay to use the flattening stone that came with the set to lap the hones before the first use? I'm going to get the sand paper since I have to round the edges of the hones anyway, but I was just curious.
Is it okay to sharpen knives on the same hones that I use for my razors?

Sure use your flattening stone that comes with your set.

The 220 grit and 1000 would be good for knives. The 4/8 is getting too fine for working knives.
MIke

Originally Posted by salazch

nice, thanks.
is it also okay to use the flattening stone that came with the set to lap the hones before the first use?

Yes, that is what it's for. (Don't buy another one!) Just soak your stones for about 15 minutes, draw a grid with a pencil and rub the stone to flatten on the flattening stone. The coarser the grit, the most soaking required (though I don't have the 220, so maybe this isn't set in stone, but I know the 8k doesn't need much soaking).

thanks for the feedback everybody!

Oh, so i keep hearing that its critical to round the edges of the hones, otherwise the edge can be dulled while doing an x-stroke pattern. Is it true/all that necessary to round them, or can this step be skipped?

It's highly suggested to chamfer (round) the sides of the stone. You don't HAVE to, but there is always the chance that you'll be almost finished on the hone, and BANG! the edge digs into that corner ever so slightly, and you're forced to re-hone that razor.

I use wet sandpaper to lap/refresh my norton 4k/8k combo. after I am done with a sheet, I fold it a few times and hit all the edges to round them a tad. the same can be done with your flattening stone.
It takes all of 30 seconds to do, so there is really no reason not to.